Africa most powerful military unit, wey be Egypt, don formally invite China People Liberation Army Air Force make e come participate for di El Alamein Airshow. In response, China go showcase wide range of aircraft, including fighter jets, early warning aircraft, tankers, and helicopters.
Di airshow, wey now dey run second time, dey show how Egypt get strong strategic partnership with im key allies, and China dey play prominent role among dem. Di event go happun for El Alamein International Airport wey dey Egypt Mediterranean coast, between September 8 and 10.
For di first airshow for 2024, China bin don show aircraft lineup wey include Y-20 transport aircraft and J-10 performance jets. But dis year, some of China showcase go include early warning aircraft, tankers, and helicopters, wey go show di PLA Air Force system-of-systems operational capability, according to Song Zhongping, Chinese military affairs expert wey yarn with Global Times.
Di Chinese expert tok say one of di advantages of using China-made aircraft na say dem get autonomy and domestic maintenance. E note say Chinese aircraft fit be used completely independent of China involvement, and dem fit also maintain am domestically.
E add say China defense exports dey provided without political conditions, and di approach na to offer customers long-term support. Song also reveal say China arms exports no be to change regional power dynamics, but to help countries strengthen dia defense capabilities and contribute to peace and stability.
Di airshow dey happun alongside di China-Egypt Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint military training exercise. China and Egypt don conduct di second edition of dia joint air exercise, Eagles of Civilization 2026, as di two countries dey deepen military cooperation. Di exercise bin begin on August 22 at several Egyptian air bases, and e bin scheduled to run from mid-August to early September.
Di exercise involve multi-role fighter aircraft, and e focus on air-combat tactics, air-superiority operations, combat search and rescue, and joint planning and management of air operations. Dis initiative succeed di inaugural Eagles of Civilization training wey dem conduct for 2025, during which China deploy comprehensive air force package to Egypt, wey include J-10C fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, and YY-20 aerial refueling tankers.
China no be di only global superpower wey dey invest for Egypt air defense system. Recently, reports indicate say Rostec, Russia leading defense enterprise, announce plans to present classified weapon system wey dem integrate with im Su-57E export fighter aircraft for di El Alamein International Airshow.
According to official statement wey Russian state defense enterprise release, di aircraft dey scheduled to display previously undisclosed weapons, both domestically and internationally, while e dey perform aerobatic maneuvers during di flight demonstration, as DefenseBlog see am. “Di Su-57 na di flagship fighter of di Russian Air Force, wey performance don confirm for real combat conditions,” Rostec statement tok. “Now dis aircraft also dey win export markets.”
Rostec no release details of di new weaponry or di specific foreign nations wey don buy di Su-57E. To date, no sovereign state don officially confirm operational deployment of di Su-57E.
